OFFICIAL PLANNER + MAP
Build the circuit on the official platform.
Use the official interactive map for route stages, refuges, current planning information and links into the central reservation system.
Open the official TMB planner ↗ (new tab)MONT BLANC MASSIF · WESTERN ALPS · NAMED TRAIL
Tour du Mont Blanc
Three countries, high passes, refuges and village recovery nights.
WHOLE TRAIL170 km / 106 mi
PLANNING PACE7–11 walking days
WALKING EFFORTDemanding
SLEEP INDOORSMountain refuges, village auberges & selected hotels
Plan the classic Tour du Mont Blanc circuit with official refuge bookings, honest bag-transfer limits, hotel alternatives and section-by-section food, water and transport guidance.
01 / GET YOUR BEARINGS
See where the walk takes you.
Loading the map. Places along the route are listed below.
Location overview: numbered pins mark approximate places. Dotted connections show their order, not the walking path. Use the linked route maps for navigation.
CENTRAL ACCOMMODATION BOOKING
Check huts and lodges before fixing dates.
The official reservation platform brings together many refuges and guesthouses around the circuit. Availability is not complete for every property, so follow direct links too.
Open official TMB reservations ↗ (new tab)PAPER MAP / FULL CIRCUIT
Carry detailed mapping off-screen.
Cicerone's compact TMB map booklet uses 1:25,000 IGN mapping for the complete route, including common variants, facilities and urban maps.
View the TMB map booklet ↗ (new tab)TRAIL CONDITIONS
Recheck snow, closures and variants.
High passes and variants can be unsafe or closed even when valley weather looks settled. Review official conditions and ask the next refuge before each mountain stage.
Check official trail conditions ↗ (new tab)The TMB is well known but still a high-mountain journey. Carry a paper map and downloaded offline route, reserve every overnight, and recheck weather, snow, lifts, transport and refuge opening immediately before travel.
02 / CHOOSE YOUR SUPPORT
Your walk. Your way of travelling.
You can change this as you plan.
03 / MAKE ROOM FOR THE WALK
The whole trail, or your part of it.
Start with the route length. Then allow time to enjoy it.
Classic 11-stage circuit
A complete counter-clockwise circuit with two remote Italian refuge nights and a mountain night at La Flégère. Stage mileage is approximate and varies with the selected variants, lifts and exact lodging.
Walking-day ranges are planning estimates, not a booked daily itinerary. Choose actual overnight stops and check stage distances before reserving. Rest days add time; they do not shorten walking stages.
04 / THE PLACES ALONG THE WAY
Shape the days around the stays.
The classic counter-clockwise outline below mixes village hotels with staffed mountain refuges. The named stay is a practical map anchor at each stop—not a claim of availability. Use the direct or official booking link first, then compare Booking.com where a verified property listing or broader town search is useful.
Know exactly which refuge bed you are reserving
On the official circuit identifies a staffed mountain refuge reached on foot. Village and base-town hotels are labelled separately; they are not substitutes for a booked mountain stage unless the access note explains the transfer.
Use both maps. "View stay on route map" shows the property with the route sequence. Google Maps is useful for roads, transfers and nearby services, but it is not the navigation source for a high-mountain circuit.
| Place | Next walking section | Stays & trail access |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Les Houches · arrival and trail start | 9.9 mi / 16.0 km to Les Contamines-Montjoie Stay near the official start and keep the first morning simple. The Bellevue lift can shorten or alter the opening stage, but only use it after checking the chosen route, operating dates and weather. |
Hôtel Saint Antoine ↗ (new tab)Find Hôtel Saint Antoine on Booking.com ↗ (new tab) Village hotel with restaurant and wellness area A central Les Houches base close to local transport and the start area. Confirm the walking line from the hotel to your selected trailhead or lift before departure. View hotel on route map ↓Open in Google Maps ↗ Official Chamonix Valley hotel directory ↗ (new tab)Source checked 25 Sep 2026Official TMB refuges and guesthouses ↗ (new tab)Broader Booking.com search around Les Houches · arrival and trail start ↗ (new tab)Not filtered by distance from the trail. First open the named anchor stay above, then compare alternatives on the map and verify the walking route.
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| 2 Les Contamines-Montjoie | 11.2 mi / 18.0 km to Les Chapieux |
Chalet-Hôtel La Chemenaz ↗ (new tab)Find La Chemenaz on Booking.com ↗ (new tab) Trail-side hotel with restaurant, pool and hot tub The official Les Contamines listing places the hotel beside the GR5 and Tour du Mont Blanc. Confirm the exact route entrance and whether your chosen stage continues through the village centre. View hotel on route map ↓Open in Google Maps ↗ Official Les Contamines lodging listing ↗ (new tab)Source checked 25 Sep 2026Official TMB refuges and guesthouses ↗ (new tab)Broader Booking.com search around Les Contamines-Montjoie ↗ (new tab)Not filtered by distance from the trail. First open the named anchor stay above, then compare alternatives on the map and verify the walking route.
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| 3 Les Chapieux | 9.3 mi / 15.0 km to Rifugio Elisabetta |
Auberge de la Nova ↗ (new tab)Check through official TMB reservations ↗ (new tab) Seasonal mountain auberge with shared and private rooms A traditional overnight on the TMB at Les Chapieux with road access. Confirm opening dates, room type, board and any shuttle needed for the next stage. View hotel on route map ↓Open in Google Maps ↗ Official TMB accommodation directory ↗ (new tab)Source checked 25 Sep 2026 |
| 4 Rifugio Elisabetta | 10.6 mi / 17.0 km to Courmayeur |
Rifugio Elisabetta Soldini Montanaro ↗ (new tab)Check through official TMB reservations ↗ (new tab) Staffed high-mountain refuge · shared sleeping The refuge is a classic TMB stage beneath Col de la Seigne. It is reached on foot; standard road luggage delivery should not be assumed. View hotel on route map ↓Open in Google Maps ↗ Refuge location and services ↗ (new tab)Source checked 25 Sep 2026 |
| 5 Courmayeur | 7.5 mi / 12.0 km to Rifugio Walter Bonatti |
Hotel Croux ↗ (new tab)Find Hotel Croux on Booking.com ↗ (new tab) Central hotel with breakfast and wellness facilities A central Courmayeur anchor for a private-room recovery night. The route enters and leaves town on different sides; check the walking line or local bus for your exact stage. View hotel on route map ↓Open in Google Maps ↗ Hotel location and facilities ↗ (new tab)Source checked 25 Sep 2026Official TMB refuges and guesthouses ↗ (new tab)Broader Booking.com search around Courmayeur ↗ (new tab)Not filtered by distance from the trail. First open the named anchor stay above, then compare alternatives on the map and verify the walking route.
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| 6 Rifugio Walter Bonatti | 12.4 mi / 20.0 km to La Fouly |
Rifugio Walter Bonatti ↗ (new tab)Request a booking directly ↗ (new tab) Staffed high-mountain refuge · shared and limited private rooms The refuge sits on the Val Ferret balcony section. It is reached on foot; its booking form is a request and does not itself guarantee confirmation. View hotel on route map ↓Open in Google Maps ↗ Direct refuge booking instructions ↗ (new tab)Source checked 25 Sep 2026 |
| 7 La Fouly | 9.3 mi / 15.0 km to Champex-Lac |
Auberge Maya-Joie ↗ (new tab)Find Maya-Joie on Booking.com ↗ (new tab) Village auberge with rooms and meals A village-stage anchor after the Grand Col Ferret descent. Confirm the final walking connection, dinner and luggage acceptance before relying on a transfer. View hotel on route map ↓Open in Google Maps ↗ Official TMB accommodation directory ↗ (new tab)Source checked 25 Sep 2026Official TMB refuges and guesthouses ↗ (new tab)Broader Booking.com search around La Fouly ↗ (new tab)Not filtered by distance from the trail. First open the named anchor stay above, then compare alternatives on the map and verify the walking route.
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| 8 Champex-Lac | 9.9 mi / 16.0 km to Trient |
Hôtel du Glacier ↗ (new tab)Find Hôtel du Glacier on Booking.com ↗ (new tab) Lake village hotel with restaurant A central Champex-Lac anchor near village services. The following day has standard and Fenêtre d'Arpette variants; choose before leaving and confirm conditions. View hotel on route map ↓Open in Google Maps ↗ Official TMB accommodation directory ↗ (new tab)Source checked 25 Sep 2026Official TMB refuges and guesthouses ↗ (new tab)Broader Booking.com search around Champex-Lac ↗ (new tab)Not filtered by distance from the trail. First open the named anchor stay above, then compare alternatives on the map and verify the walking route.
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| 9 Trient | 9.3 mi / 15.0 km to Argentière / Le Tour |
Auberge du Mont-Blanc ↗ (new tab)Find the auberge on Booking.com ↗ (new tab) Village auberge with dorms, rooms and meals A practical TMB overnight in Trient. Confirm the exact building, room type and meal plan, as the village has limited alternatives in busy periods. View hotel on route map ↓Open in Google Maps ↗ Official TMB accommodation directory ↗ (new tab)Source checked 25 Sep 2026Official TMB refuges and guesthouses ↗ (new tab)Broader Booking.com search around Trient ↗ (new tab)Not filtered by distance from the trail. First open the named anchor stay above, then compare alternatives on the map and verify the walking route.
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| 10 Argentière / Le Tour | 10.6 mi / 17.0 km to La Flégère / Les Praz |
Hôtel de la Couronne ↗ (new tab)Find Hôtel de la Couronne on Booking.com ↗ (new tab) Village hotel near rail, bus and restaurants Argentière is a practical road-and-rail-served overnight after crossing from Trient. Depending on the exact route, it is a short connection from Le Tour rather than a bed directly on every variant. View hotel on route map ↓Open in Google Maps ↗ Official Chamonix Valley accommodation directory ↗ (new tab)Source checked 25 Sep 2026Official TMB refuges and guesthouses ↗ (new tab)Broader Booking.com search around Argentière / Le Tour ↗ (new tab)Not filtered by distance from the trail. First open the named anchor stay above, then compare alternatives on the map and verify the walking route.
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| 11 La Flégère / Les Praz | 10.6 mi / 17.0 km to Les Houches · finish |
Refuge de la Flégère ↗ (new tab)Request a refuge booking directly ↗ (new tab) Mountain refuge on the Chamonix balcony A mountain-stage night that keeps the Lac Blanc and Brévent finish manageable. Access, opening and luggage delivery are constrained by the mountain location; confirm directly before committing. View hotel on route map ↓Open in Google Maps ↗ Official TMB accommodation directory ↗ (new tab)Source checked 25 Sep 2026 |
| 12 Les Houches · finish | Finishing area |
Hôtel Saint Antoine ↗ (new tab)Find Hôtel Saint Antoine on Booking.com ↗ (new tab) Finish-night hotel with restaurant and wellness area Return to Les Houches, collect stored luggage and avoid planning a tight same-day airport connection after the Brévent descent. View hotel on route map ↓Open in Google Maps ↗ Official Chamonix Valley hotel directory ↗ (new tab)Source checked 25 Sep 2026Official TMB refuges and guesthouses ↗ (new tab)Broader Booking.com search around Les Houches · finish ↗ (new tab)Not filtered by distance from the trail. First open the named anchor stay above, then compare alternatives on the map and verify the walking route.
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These are lodging starting points, not reserved rooms. Access notes and any quoted distances come from the linked sources. Confirm your dates, room type, actual walking route and luggage collection with each property before booking.
MEALS, SNACKS & DRINKING WATER
Your food and water, in walking order.
The cards follow the walking section selected above.
Confirmed by a property or official trail sourceTown option near a stage start or finishCarry it when dependable support is not verified
Opening days and meal arrangements change. Reserve meals at remote overnight stops, request packed lunches in advance and fill or buy water before each walking section. Official top-up taps are useful planning anchors, but always check current availability.
This is a planning guide, not a promise that a café, shop, meal service or tap will be open. Confirm dietary needs, packed lunches, dinner reservations and water access directly before walking.
LUGGAGE & BASE STORAGE
Carry the mountain kit; store the rest.
A different luggage plan for a roadless refuge circuit.
The TMB supports several baggage styles, but not every refuge is road accessible. Decide before booking whether you want daily hotel transfers, selected road-served deliveries, or a true hut circuit with the main suitcase stored in the Chamonix valley.
HOTEL-LED COMFORT
Move a bag between road-served stays.
Works best with an operator-built hotel itinerary. It may require shuttles that alter the continuous walking route.
SELECTED TRANSFERS
Receive the bag only at reachable stops.
Carry overnight essentials for Elisabetta, Bonatti, La Flégère and any other unserved refuge, then reunite with the main bag at the next confirmed road stop.
STORE + CARRY
Leave the suitcase near Les Houches.
Use the same valley hotel before and after the circuit, obtain written storage confirmation, and carry a compact hut pack for the full loop.
DAILY / SELECTED BAG MOVES
Mountain Drop-offs TMB bag transfer
The operator requires confirmed accommodation, uses designated collection points, limits bags to 15 kg and states that some refuges cannot be served. Verify the current season, exact stops and missed-refuge plan before paying.
Check TMB bag-transfer rules ↗ (new tab)PACKAGE SUPPORT
Use a walking-holiday operator
Many self-guided and guided packages combine reserved rooms, selected transfers and emergency support. Compare the precise overnight pattern—not just the headline promise of luggage transfer.
Compare supported TMB formats ↗ (new tab)BASE STORAGE
Confirm storage with your Les Houches hotel
Book pre- and post-walk nights at the same staffed property and get the full storage interval, collection hours and liability in writing.
Browse official Les Houches hotels ↗ (new tab)Confirm current prices, operating dates, collection times, excluded properties, bag limits, liability and any finish storage directly. An arranged holiday may already include daily transfers.
Booking an arranged hut trip?
Compare the operator's exact refuges, board plan, packed lunches, transfers and route direction with the independent route plan shown here.
Do not assume the package moves luggage between huts; confirm what you must carry and whether it includes base-town storage.
Compare operator trips →Get there—and get back—simply
Les Houches in the Chamonix valley is the simplest classic start and finish. Geneva is the usual international gateway; Courmayeur and the Swiss valleys offer practical mid-route entry or exit points.
Open the practical transport guide
Geneva to Les Houches
Compare a direct airport shuttle with rail connections through Geneva and the Chamonix valley. Stay the night before walking; do not make a high pass depend on a same-morning flight arrival.
Local valley movement
Chamonix-valley trains and buses connect Les Houches, Chamonix, Argentière and Le Tour. They are useful for hotel access, weather exits and a post-finish spa night, but do not replace mountain-stage planning.
Courmayeur connection
Courmayeur has bus links through the Mont Blanc tunnel toward Chamonix and regional links toward Aosta. Use it for a half-route or hotel-led adaptation and verify seasonal timetables.
Swiss exits
La Fouly, Champex-Lac and Trient connect through regional buses and trains, often with changes. Use SBB journey planning and allow recovery time if leaving the circuit early.
Finish and airport buffer
Collect stored luggage in Les Houches and keep a final valley night. Mountain weather, lifts and long descents make a same-day flight a poor finish plan.
Official Chamonix transport information ↗ (new tab)Geneva Airport transport ↗ (new tab)Swiss journey planner ↗ (new tab)Courmayeur regional bus information ↗ (new tab)
Timetables, lifts, tunnel services and mountain shuttles change by season. Check exact dates, reservation requirements and last departures shortly before travel.
05 / TRIPS OFFERED ON THIS TRAIL
Compare trips from walking-holiday providers.
These are bookable trips offered by independent providers along all or part of this trail. Walking trips are the core comparison; when a genuinely relevant horseback, cycling or running version exists, we label it clearly as a different way to experience the same route landscape.
14 trip options from 14 operators.
Self-guided and guided are both included. Use the Service filter above to separate them. This is a researched selection, not every provider or itinerary. Examples checked 25 September 2026. Starting prices are per person; check your dates, room basis, single supplements and inclusions. Currencies are shown as advertised.
| Operator & trip | Service & coverage | Time | Advertised from | Check the details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Macs AdventureTour du Mont Blanc self-guided range | Self-guidedWhole trail | Choose itinerary | Check current price | Multiple self-guided TMB formats, including hotel and hut patterns. Compare exact luggage coverage, room basis and trail sections. View trip with Macs Adventure ↗ (new tab) |
| Mont Blanc TreksGuided and self-guided TMB | Self-guidedWhole trail | Choose itinerary | Check current price | Full, easterly and westerly itineraries with guided and self-guided choices. Verify accommodation and transfer detail for the selected departure. View trip with Mont Blanc Treks ↗ (new tab) |
| Tours du Mont Blanc11-day self-guided Tour du Mont Blanc | Self-guidedWhole trail | 11 days / 10 nights11 walking days | from €1,895 pp pp | Full Les Houches circuit with basic and comfort choices; the operator also advertises guided and luxury variations. View trip with Tours du Mont Blanc ↗ (new tab) |
| Alpine ExploratoryClassic self-guided Tour du Mont Blanc | Self-guidedWhole trail | 14 days / 13 nights11 walking days | Check current price | A slower self-guided schedule covering the classic 11 walking stages with pre-arranged accommodation and route materials. View trip with Alpine Exploratory ↗ (new tab) |
| Alpenventures Unguided11-day private-room TMB | Self-guidedWhole trail | 11 days / 10 nights10 walking days | Check current price | A private-room-led self-guided version with one non-private night and optional luggage. Confirm which refuge night and every unserved-bag stage. View trip with Alpenventures Unguided ↗ (new tab) |
| Adventure BaseSelf-guided Tour du Mont Blanc in 7 days | Self-guidedWhole trail | 7 days / 6 nights7 walking days | from €1,310 pp pp | A faster self-guided circuit. Compare daily ascent, lift or transfer use and the accommodation pattern against the classic 11-stage walk. View trip with Adventure Base ↗ (new tab) |
| UTracksTour du Mont Blanc walking range | Self-guidedWhole trail | Choose itinerary | Check current price | Guided and self-guided choices across several durations. Check which package completes the circuit and whether bags reach every overnight. View trip with UTracks ↗ (new tab) |
| Compagnie des Guides de ChamonixGuided Tour du Mont Blanc | GuidedWhole trail | Choose itinerary | Check current price | Scheduled guided group departures managed by a long-established local guide company, with itinerary, accommodation, transfers and meals arranged. View trip with Compagnie des Guides de Chamonix ↗ (new tab) |
| Much Better AdventuresTrek the Tour du Mont Blanc in a week | GuidedWhole trail | 7 days / 6 nights | Check current price | A guided week-length itinerary. The company also lists shorter and premium hotel-led TMB products; compare route coverage carefully. View trip with Much Better Adventures ↗ (new tab) |
| 57hoursHotel-based Tour du Mont Blanc | GuidedWhole trail | 11 days / 10 nights | Check current price | A guided hotel-based adaptation with luggage transfers, lifts and most meals. It differs from the classic hut-to-hut overnight pattern. View trip with 57hours ↗ (new tab) |
| Pygmy ElephantSelf-guided Tour du Mont Blanc planning | Self-guidedWhole trail | Choose itinerary | Check current price | Specialist self-guided support with TMB planning experience. Ask for current itinerary, booking responsibility, transfers and emergency support. View trip with Pygmy Elephant ↗ (new tab) |
| G AdventuresTrekking Mont Blanc | GuidedWhole trail | 10 days / 9 nights | Check current price | A guided small-group trek through France, Italy and Switzerland. Compare its actual walking sections and transport with a continuous 11-stage circuit. View trip with G Adventures ↗ (new tab) |
| Exodus Adventure TravelsTour du Mont Blanc Camping Trek | GuidedWhole trail | 15 days / 14 nights10 walking days | Check current price | A guided complete-circuit camping format with 10 trekking days and planned rest days. Sleeping style differs substantially from the refuge-and-hotel plan. View trip with Exodus Adventure Travels ↗ (new tab) |
| KE Adventure TravelSelf-guided 2-week Tour du Mont Blanc | Self-guidedWhole trail | 14 days / 13 nights | Check current price | A slower self-guided circuit with rest days in Courmayeur and Champex. Confirm room basis, luggage coverage and included transfers. View trip with KE Adventure Travel ↗ (new tab) |
BEFORE THE BOOKINGS
Make the plan work
on the ground.
A high-mountain international circuit. Availability, snow, variants, lifts and road transport can materially change the safe plan.
Confirm an indoor bed for every night, the distance to each stay, and how you will reach and leave the route.
Mon Tour du Mont-Blanc · official planning platform ↗Private draft · Facts checked 25 September 2026. Dates, access and services may change.
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